Well, I’ll be damned! Am I in my own house or not? If he hadn’t taken me by surprise! An old frog like that before your eyes of a sudden. I’d cleaned out his cupboard! Play on, Jelle!

[Jelle begins again.]

Kneir.

Ach, please don’t, Geert. I’m afraid that if Meneer Bos——[Motions to Jelle to stop.]

Geert.

This one is afraid to sail, this one of the Matron of the Old Men’s Home, this one of a little ship owner! Forbids me in my own house! Commands me as though I were a servant!

Saart.

Fun is fun, but if you were a ship owner, you wouldn’t want your sailors singing like socialists either.

Kneir.

When he knows how dependent I am, too.